Rush, Dalglish defend Benitez against Liverpool owners

Published 6:00 pm, Monday, January 14, 2008

Liverpool greats Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish have backed Reds manager Rafa Benitez in his public dispute with the club's owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr.

The former strike partners, who scored a combined 401 goals for the Reds, teamed up again Tuesday to defend Benitez, who is unhappy at the perceived lack of financial support from the two Americans. Hicks owns baseball's Texas Rangers and hockey's Dallas Stars.

Rush and Dalglish are also dismayed former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann was sounded out as a potential replacement for Benitez, saying the Americans will lose if Reds fans are forced to take sides.

"Now people are going to say the club is a laughing stock," Rush told the Sun. "In many ways, you can understand that because this is not the way Liverpool do things. The tradition of the club and the very thing that has made them so hugely respected throughout the world is to do everything in-house. Not out in the open like this.

"They shouldn't have said anything. Now many will look at Rafa as a dead man walking."

Dalglish, who also managed Liverpool from 1985-91, warned Hicks and Gillett that the fans will turn against them if they don't resolve their dispute with the Spaniard, who is a big favorite with supporters for getting the Reds to two Champions League finals in three seasons and for winning an FA Cup title.

"After the fans showed their support for Rafa the last time, I would not be surprised if there was another show of support for the man at the game against Luton," Dalglish said. "I think fans will be very disappointed and frustrated. I don't think they have ever had this before. I think Rafa's reputation was reflected in the support the punters gave him."

About 2,000 fans marched outside Anfield before a Champions League match against FC Porto on Nov. 28 to support Benitez. The Reds play an FA Cup third-round replay against Luton on Wednesday.

"Tom Hicks and George Gillett, they are the ones that are new to the supporters," Dalglish told the Liverpool Echo. "They are the ones the supporters can relate to least of all. So those two have got to have a look and say: 'What PR can we do? What are we going to do to get back in favor with the supporters?'

"At the moment, as this comes out, I don't think they will exactly be flavor of the month or the favorite people at the football club."

Meanwhile, employment lawyer Richard Linskell says Benitez has a good case for wrongful dismissal, if he was to leave the club, because the owners admitted Monday discussing his job with someone else.

"Certainly, I would say it was not well advised," Linskell said. "(Hicks) may well of course have an American approach to employment law, and in America they have what is called employment-at-will, and they can say what they like and dismiss people without any repercussions.

"He may be coming from a legal system where he can say that sort of thing without fear of legal consequences. I am not an expert on the American legal system, but I am aware of the basics. I couldn't really say whether he has even thought about the issue or whether he has just shot from the hip, as people in that sort of position often do."